Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

• Matthew 10:33

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

• Mark 8:38

“If it is hard to bear the world’s persecution, it is harder still to bear the responsibility for not having acted, to stand ashamed and eternity because you did not win the bold confidence that transforms shame into honor.”

• Søren Kierkegaard, Provocations (from Thoughts that Radically Cure)

This is a difficult topic.  We should be bold in our faith, but we should not go looking for trouble.  Trouble can range from harsh words and being pushed around to death.

It was said that the early church was practically asking to be thrown to the lions, literally, because they felt that a martyr’s death was the best way to die.  But they were convinced that the church would not survive if the present generation was completely eliminated.  Yes, there are the Scriptures about raising stones to life, but the new tactic was to hide from the deadly authorities and worship behind closed doors or underground.

Today, we have many countries where this must be the overpowering rule.  Yet, in countries where there is no state-instituted persecution, persecution still exists.

And the persecution Kierkegaard speaks of is being shamed due to our beliefs.  There is much of that in free countries today.

Do we get labeled as a Christian by those in our neighborhood?  Are we shamed in the workplace, or maybe as I was at times, passed over for promotion because my Christian moral code was more restrictive than the lack of morality that the company worked by?

The old saying that sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me is a one-sided saying these days.  One side is offended by anything – mostly anything they do not wish to hear – and the other side is not allowed to be offended … ever.

So, if we are already being persecuted for being a little different, why not boldly state our reason for this difference?  Be shamed without being ashamed.  The reward for that comes later.  What we never want to hear is for God to say that He never knew us.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.